Name/Title
Fell Collection Finding AidEntry/Object ID
2021.008.1Scope and Content
REPOSITORY
HAROLD AND GLADYS FELL COLLECTION, FINDING AID
Historic Red Hook 7562 North Broadway Red Hook, NY 12571
ACCESSION NUMBER 2021.008
TITLE
Harold and Gladys Fell Collection
EXTENT
One document Box and two hardbound books DATES
1660’s (from genealogy record) through 2010 CONDITIONS GOVERNING ACCESS
No Restrictions
LANGUAGES
English
SCOPE AND CONTENT
Two bound volumes are not included in box- one a genealogy of the Fell family, the other a genealogy of the Koon-Coons families
One document box holds the following:
Family Photos and copy of antique photo of 1834 building, all in manila folder
softbound volumes/booklets related to Red Hook area, Framed photo, 3 ring binders
HISTORICAL NOTE
Gladys Fell (1927-2021) and Harold Fell (1924-2011) had a strong and enduring interest in the history of Red Hook, New York. This collection demonstrates that interest in various ways.
Ms. Fell collected newspaper clippings and memorabilia at least starting in the 1980’s and included relevant material from much earlier as well. Both Fells were
interested in military history and he went to local cemeteries to identify and list military graves. Mr. Fell was instrumental in the acquisition of funding and the construction of the veteran memorial plaques now in the Veteran’s Park at the Red Hook Village green, Mr. Fell was caretaker for the Richard Abrahams Memorial Park in his later years and Ms. Fell continued that tradition. He served as Red Hook mayor, village trustee, President of the Friends of the Elmendorph, and was a life member of the Red Hook Post 7765 VFW, where Ms. Fell was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary. Both Fells were members of a local rose society.
According to her family, Gladys Fell often placed clags on graves and memorials of military vets during holidays. She lived in her own home into her nineties and continued to show keen interest in her activities including watching over the Richard Abrahams Memorial Park, across the street from her home in Red Hook.
When it became apparent that the items in this collection could be donated to Historic Red Hook, the Fell family declined to cill out a deed of gift.
PROVENANCE
This collection was donated by the family of Gladys and Harold Fell.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Courtesy of Historic Red Hook
CONTENTS OF BOX AND ADDITIONAL ITEMS PHOTOGRAPHS
Photos are loose in folder, include several original photos and some photocopies:
Wedding Photo, circa 1940’s, Fell and Lown families, original
Red Hook Central class of 1946, some persons identicied including surnames Pulver, Teator, original
Class of 1946, school not identicied, surnames include Pulver, Teator, Lown, Sipperly, Tremper (note, photo taken after some of the women were married), original
Class Group Photo, circa 1930, surnames include Coon, Tremper, Teater, Pulver, Lown- identicies Henry Coon WWII on back with other names, original
Additional photos which appear to be photocopies or updated glossy versions include of Red Hook Hotel, Shookville Church circa 1834, NY Central Station (Barrytown), Lafayette Lodge Restaurant circa 1940’s,
Red Hook School Soap Factory built about 1900, burned 1936, The Band at Chandler Park- Red Hook bandstand (each band member identicied) circa ?1930’s, colorized photo of unidenticied village location circa 1910, photocopy of unidenticied train station circa 1910. Additionally,oneframedphotoofTivoliTrainStation,viewcirca1872,preparedas part of centennial Celebration 1972.
SOFTBOUND PAMPHLETS
Tivoli 1872-1972 Published as part of centennial Tivoli Revisited: A Social History
by Richard C. Wiles, 1981
Dutchess County Railroads by William P McDermott, 1996 “Short legs and long aprons. A Knickerbocker Childhood” by Edmund
Knickerbocker, 1997, Clinton Historical Society
Red Hook area Chamber of Commerce, 1960-1985, 25th Anniversary
publication
Growing Up in Barrytown (1931-1951) by John J. Lewis Hardscrabble, 1941, Red Hook Central High School Annual
Hardscrabble, 1945, Red Hook Central High School Annual
A Civil War Soldier’s Diary, by Peter W. Funk , 1931-32
LARGE RING BINDER #1
(Note regarding binders- there are many photographs within articles and placed in binders of buildings, people etc, including a small print photo of Hart boy riding reportedly the cirst bicycle sold in Red Hook)
This binder has protective pages usually containing articles, photos and miscellaneous items mostly related to Red Hook history. Most newspaper articles not dated but can often be identicied as to timeline.
Subjectsinclude:RedHookLibrary,GottliebMartin House,RedHookHotel,Tobacco Factory, Red Hook Inn, Chocolate Factory (including large photocopy of group photo of employees circa 1910), Red Hook baseball and sports history, St. Margaret’s Orphan Asylum, churches, First National Bank, Rokeby- includes article with interview of J Winthrop Aldrich (Red Hook Town Historian), Tivoli Library, Barrytown Post Ofcice, Montgomery Place, Barrytown general history,
Articles with interviews of Rosemary Coons, Red Hook Village historian, and J. Winthrop Aldrich, Red Hook Town historian.
2006 Calendar that includes photo of 3rd and 4th grade, Red Hook school, 1928, and photo of men planting corn in South Meadow, Red Hook, 1916.
LARGE RING BINDER #2
Miscellaneous items on: St. Margaret’s Home- Architectural Tour, Part of chapter on Town of Red Hook from History of Dutchess County by James Smith
Extensive collection of obituaries of Red Hook residents in back of binders. Nearly all of these residents were veterans. Obituaries from various publications as well as funeral homes.
Letters between Mr. Fall and others, and communications regarding the establishment and building of the Veterans Memorial in Red Hook. Records of veterans names buried in cemeteries in particular St. Paul’s Cemetery and cemeteries in Tivoli. Inclusive list of names of individuals buried in the Methodist Cemetery on Cherry St. Information, photos and maps of some small cemeteries including one where Fellers are buried.
List of members of VFW Red Hook post, 2010. SMALL RING BINDER
Inventory of names of veterans in St. Paul’s Cemetery (continued), Red Hook, NY.
LARGE RING BINDER #3
Separate sections with names of Red Hook Veterans of American Revolution, Spanish American War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Iraq War.
LARGE RING BINDER #3
Lists of names of veterans buried in the following cemeteries: St. Paul’s Red Hook, St. John’s Upper Red Hook, St. John’s Barrytown, Sacred Heart Barrytown, Bard College Annandale, Cherry Sr, Red Church Tivoli, St. Sylvia Tivoli, Feller Burial Ground Spring Lake.
Large photo of Christian Grundler (spelling unclear) Jr. in his uniform and casual sheet on his status, 1862, photo of Bertram Lown, WW1, photos of the monument and list of soldiers Tivoli Civil War Monument, photo of dedication of monument at Gettysburg,
Sheets of portrait photos and separate photos of Red Hook area men serving in armed forces, plus assorted articles about them. Some photos are originals.
Early drawing of the design of the Veterans Memorial, Red Hook.
Letter from John Winthrop Aldrich to Mr. and Mrs. Fell about his wartime experiences and comments on the effort to identify local people who served in the armed services. Letter to Assemblyman Molinaro from Howard Fell to request cinancial help for plaques for Korea and Vietnam.
BOUND BOOKS- SEPARATE FROM BOX
Koon-Coons Families of Eastern New York by William S. Coons and Kate Koon Bovey, pub 1937
LARGE RING BINDER #4
The Amazing Story of Fells in America by Sharon Taylor, 1983
RELATED MATERIALS
Interview with Butch (Harold T.) Fell, Jr. July 2021
Harold T Fell obituaries- Burnett and White Funeral Home and Legacy.com/Poughkeepsie Journal, July 14, 2011
Finding Aid prepared by Nancy Bendiner August, 2021
LARGE RING BINDER #5
